Neighborhood Scholarship Grants Are Back!

We're very excited about this recent grant we received, but the opportunity and information is time sensitive. A private organization has once again decided to subsidize a major portion of tuition for children wanting to take visual arts, group guitar lessons or dance at Laity.

As you know financial times are very challenging for parents who desire after school programs of substance for their children but don't have the money. The funding organization providing the funding realizes this and have taken steps again to insure that anyone wanting to learn the arts can. Please help us to get this information out to the rest of our community. If you are a parent needing this opportunity, please take advantage of it.

Normal pricing for these subjects are $75 a month for art lessons and $100 a month for group music lessons. With the grant the monthly tuition has been brought down to $45 a month for art lessons and $45 a month for group music lessons. This grant is for new students only.

Here's how to take advantage of these grants.

1.) You must respond to this email by calling Laity Institute of the Arts at 661.223.5585. Better yet, come in.

2.)You must be prepared to pay a reduced registration fee of $20 per child (normally $35), the 1st and last month tuition and a materials fee of $30 (for arts supplies) for a total of $140 per child. If you have more than 1 child then 10% will be taken off for each additional child.

3.) The grant requires consistent enrollment in the program for no less than 6 months with minimal absences. You must agree to the minimum requirement.

This is a time sensitive program. Enrollment must be no later than Nov. 1, 2009 at 6PM. (Yes we know it is a Sunday!) If you can't use this information and know someone who can please forward this information along to them.

Thousands of dollars have been awarded to subsidize ANY student up to 18 years old in art, music and dance. There is limited space and room for only 50 students total in all areas. Don't wait! It's first come first served. November 1, 2009 is the absolute deadline for enrollment. Anyone interested should come to the Institute. I know the flyer says call but it's better you come in person with a copy of the flyer and register. Again, please don't wait. The last time we were provided this opportunity we had to turn away over 20 families because they waited until the last minute!

P.S.
If you are a Homeschool educator and you want to take advantage of this grant you can. Laity will be opening it's doors Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings from 9AM - 1PM to facilitate the Visual Arts and Group Guitar lessons.

There are two Visual Arts classes available each Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning starting at 9AM. Classes are an hour and a half and are geared for children ages 8 and up. Class enrollment size is limited to 10children per class.

Group guitar lessons are also available each Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings from 10AM - 1PM. Group Classes are 45 min. and are limited to 5 - 7 students per class. Geared for children ages 7 and up. There must be a minimum of 5 students per class for it to open. There is limited space for only 50 students in the morning program for all areas.

French for Children After Dance Classes

How important is it for your child to know a foreign language in today's global economy? I hope you answered 'very important.' We think so, too. That's why we will be offering lessons in learning the french language to children in our Intro to Dance and Kids Combo dance classes every Saturday for an hour immediately after their class.

The cost will be an additional $20 per month but the benefits will be tremendous.  Scientific research confirms that the prime time in life for learning a language is from birth to age twelve. NEWSWEEK calls it the "window of opportunity" for languages. In Europe, kids commonly start a second or even a third language at the same time as their first. Why? Because it will never be as easy again. The secret is to start now.

Laity will be providing a solid foundation in French for children 4 - 9.  Speaking, listening, reading, and writing will all be emphasized, with class time devoted to oral expression.

Antelope Valley's New Film Academy

So what is this film academy stuff we've been talking about? Well, here it is in a nutshell.

The Laity Arts Film Academy (LAFA) is founded on the core principle of integrating industry professionals with students that are passionate about content production in an intense creative learning environment.

LAFA offers intensive training from working professionals using the latest industry tools. Our mission is to prep each student for a career in an ever converging entertainment world that's increasingly impacted by technology, diversity, global integration, independent production as well as traditional media.

LAFA teaches Film Directing, Screenwriting, Film/Television Acting, Commercial Acting, Show Development, Computer Animation & Gaming, and Post Production. LAFA's high industry standards and a hands-on approach to learning, will allow students to explore and create practical work as they learn in a class structure that is more condensed than a traditional school setting.

LAFA is founded on the same progressive philosophy upon which Laity Institute of the Arts was founded -- to make a true impact in the artistic endeavors of those that embody a "passion for the arts!"

That's it. Now, it's time to get the creative juices flowing. Tons of meetings to take and lots of great and passionate people to see.

[Selah Moment]

There's something that needs to be said here before I close. I've heard rumblings from other people who have similar ambitions here in Antelope Valley talk in terms of "owning" the Antelope Valley when it comes to the kind of endeavor we're currently embarking on, and it's troubling to say the least. When I hear people talk in these terms I immediately see posturing and a sense that the community is to be used for their own self-defined purposes. How does that improve the artistic development of the community or raise the bar towards excellence? It doesn't. Soon, questions begin to arise: What exactly is it that they want? Money? Fame? Recognition? Power? That kind of thinking has landed us in the situation we're in now with our country. It always leads to greed, and for the life of me I can't understand how folks continually fall under the spell of people like this.

News Flash: "It's not always about money and position. It's about service to others." The only consolation I have is "you shall know them by their fruit."

From the beginning Laity has sought to be transparent and accountable in our intentions and an asset to the artistic community. For anyone reading this blog I'd be very careful of anyone or any organization who has a predatory agenda and feels comfortable enough to verbalize it in public.

I really think there's enough room for everyone to share their gifts and ideas here in the AV. Freedom of choice is a wonderful thing. I say let the people decide. In the mean time we're gonna get to work bringing 20 years of truth and excellence through the visual and performing arts to life in the arts and now through film and new media!

Keep the Focus!

Jim